List of Alabama Crimson Tide bowl games explained
The Alabama Crimson Tide football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS), representing the University of Alabama in the Western Division of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Since the establishment of the team in 1892, Alabama has appeared in 75 bowl games.[1] [2] Included in these games are 40 combined appearances in the traditional "big four" bowl games (the Rose, Sugar, Cotton, and Orange), 6 Bowl Championship Series (BCS) game appearances (including three victories in the BCS National Championship Game) and six appearances in the College Football Playoff, and three victories in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.[2] [3] [4]
Alabama's first bowl game was in 1926, when Wallace Wade led them to the first of three Rose Bowls during his tenure and defeated Washington 20–19.[5] Taking over for Wade following the 1930 season, between 1931 and 1946 Frank Thomas led Alabama to six bowl appearances including three Rose, and one trip each to the Cotton, Orange and Sugar Bowls.[6] After Thomas, Harold Drew led Alabama to the Sugar, Orange and Cotton Bowls between 1947 and 1954.[7] After a five-year bowl absence, Alabama made the first of 24 consecutive bowl appearances under Paul "Bear" Bryant in the 1959 Liberty Bowl.[8] From 1959 to 1982, Bryant led the Crimson Tide to eight Sugar, five Orange, four Cotton, four Liberty, two Bluebonnet and one Gator Bowls.[8]
After Bryant retired, Ray Perkins extended Alabama's consecutive bowl game streak to 25 years with a victory in the 1983 Sun Bowl.[9] However, the streak ended when the 1984 team finished the season with a record of five wins and six losses and failed to qualify for a bowl for the first time in 26 years.[10] The bowl absence lasted only one season as Perkins led the Crimson Tide to wins in both the Aloha and Sun Bowls before he resigned as head coach following the 1986 season.[11] Bill Curry continued the bowl tradition and led the Crimson Tide to Hall of Fame, Sun and Sugar Bowl appearances in his three seasons as head coach.[12] After Curry, Gene Stallings took Alabama to the Fiesta, Blockbuster, Gator, Citrus and Outback Bowls.[13] Stallings also led the Crimson Tide to victory in the first Bowl Coalition national championship game with a 34–13 victory over Miami in the Sugar Bowl.[14] [15] In August 1995, as part of the penalty imposed by the NCAA for rules violations, Alabama was ruled ineligible to participate in the 1995 bowl season.[16]
Following the retirement of Stallings, Mike DuBose was hired as head coach.[17] After failing to qualify for a bowl game in 1997, DuBose led the Crimson Tide to the inaugural Music City Bowl and Alabama's first BCS bowl berth in the Orange Bowl.[3] [18] After again failing to qualify for a bowl in 2000, DuBose was fired and Dennis Franchione was hired as head coach.[19] In his first season, Franchione led Alabama to the Independence Bowl.[18] In February 2002, the NCAA found Alabama violated multiple rules, and as part of its penalty a two-year bowl ban was imposed to include both the 2002 and 2003 seasons.[20] Eligible again to compete in bowl games, Mike Shula led Alabama to the Music City Bowl and a victory in the Cotton Bowl.[18] However, in 2009, Alabama was again found to have violated NCAA rules between 2005 and 2007 and as part of their penalty, the 2006 Cotton Bowl Classic victory was officially vacated.[21] In the week following the 2006 loss to Auburn, Shula was fired and Joe Kines served as interim head coach for the Independence Bowl loss.[18] [22]
In January 2007, Nick Saban was hired as head coach, and has led the Crimson Tide to 15 bowl appearances in his twelve seasons at Alabama.[23] After defeating Colorado in the Independence Bowl, Saban led Alabama to their second BCS bowl against Utah in the Sugar Bowl.[3] [23] In 2009, Saban led the Crimson Tide to the BCS National Championship Game, and defeated Texas 37–21 to clinch the program's first national title of the BCS era.[3] [23] A year after Alabama defeated Michigan State in the 2011 Capital One Bowl, the Crimson Tide defeated LSU in the BCS National Championship Game to clinch the program's second national title of the BCS era.[24] [25] The following season, the Crimson Tide won their second consecutive BCS National Championship Game by a final score of 42–14 over Notre Dame.[26] In their latest bowl appearance, Alabama defeated Ohio State in the 2021 College Football Playoff National Championship.[27] The win brings Alabama's overall bowl record to 44 wins, 26 losses, and 3 ties, placing the Crimson Tide in first place among all FBS schools for both bowl appearances and victories.[1]
Key
Bowl games
! scope="col"
| Bowl | Score | Date | Season | Opponent | Stadium | Location | Attendance[28] | Head coach |
|---|
| 1 | Rose Bowl | | | 1925 | Washington Huskies | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 50,000 | |
|---|
| 2 | Rose Bowl | | | 1926 | Stanford | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 57,417 | |
|---|
| 3 | Rose Bowl | | | 1930 | Washington State Cougars | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 60,000 | |
|---|
| 4 | Rose Bowl | | | 1934 | Stanford Indians | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 84,474 | |
|---|
| 5 | Rose Bowl | | | 1937 | California Golden Bears | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 90,000 | |
|---|
| 6 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 1941 | Texas A&M Aggies | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 38,000 | |
|---|
| 7 | Orange Bowl | | | 1942 | Boston College Eagles | Orange Bowl | Miami | 25,166 | |
|---|
| 8 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1944 | Duke Blue Devils | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | 72,000 | |
|---|
| 9 | Rose Bowl | | | 1945 | USC Trojans | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 93,000 | |
|---|
| 10 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1947 | Texas Longhorns | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | 72,000 | |
|---|
| 11 | Orange Bowl | | | 1952 | Syracuse Orangemen | Orange Bowl | Miami | 66,280 | |
|---|
| 12 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 1953 | Rice Owls | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 75,504 | |
|---|
| 13 | Liberty Bowl | | | 1959 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Philadelphia Municipal Stadium | Philadelphia | 36,211 | |
|---|
| 14 | Bluebonnet Bowl | | | 1960 | Texas Longhorns | Rice Stadium | Houston | 68,000 | |
|---|
| 15 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1961 | Arkansas Razorbacks | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | 82,910 | |
|---|
| 16 | Orange Bowl | | | 1962 | Oklahoma Sooners | Orange Bowl | Miami | 72,880 | |
|---|
| 17 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1963 | Ole Miss Rebels | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | 80,785 | |
|---|
| 18 | Orange Bowl | | | 1964 | Texas Longhorns | Orange Bowl | Miami | 72,647 | |
|---|
| 19 | Orange Bowl | | | 1965 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Orange Bowl | Miami | 72,214 | |
|---|
| 20 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1966 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | 82,000 | |
|---|
| 21 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 1967 | Texas A&M Aggies | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 75,504 | |
|---|
| 22 | Gator Bowl | | | 1968 | Missouri Tigers | Gator Bowl Stadium | Jacksonville | 68,011 | |
|---|
| 23 | Liberty Bowl | | | 1969 | Colorado Buffaloes | | Memphis | 50,042 | |
|---|
| 24 | Bluebonnet Bowl | | | 1970 | Oklahoma Sooners | Houston Astrodome | Houston | 53,829 | |
|---|
| 25 | Orange Bowl | | | 1971 | Nebraska Cornhuskers | Orange Bowl | Miami | 78,151 | |
|---|
| 26 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 1972 | Texas Longhorns | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 72,000 | |
|---|
| 27 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1973 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Tulane Stadium | New Orleans | 85,161 | |
|---|
| 28 | Orange Bowl | | | 1974 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Orange Bowl | Miami | 71,801 | |
|---|
| 29 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1975 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 75,212 | |
|---|
| 30 | Liberty Bowl | | | 1976 | UCLA Bruins | | Memphis | 52,736 | |
|---|
| 31 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1977 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 76,811 | |
|---|
| 32 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1978 | Penn State Nittany Lions | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 76,824 | |
|---|
| 33 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1979 | Arkansas Razorbacks | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 77,486 | |
|---|
| 34 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 1980 | Baylor Bears | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 74,281 | |
|---|
| 35 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 1981 | Texas Longhorns | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 73,243 | |
|---|
| 36 | Liberty Bowl | | | 1982 | Illinois Fighting Illini | Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium | Memphis | 54,123 | |
|---|
| 37 | Sun Bowl | | | 1983 | SMU Mustangs | Sun Bowl Stadium | El Paso | 41,412 | |
|---|
| 38 | Aloha Bowl | | | 1985 | USC Trojans | Aloha Stadium | Honolulu | 35,183 | |
|---|
| 39 | Sun Bowl | | | 1986 | Washington Huskies | Sun Bowl Stadium | El Paso | 48,722 | |
|---|
| 40 | | | | 1987 | Michigan Wolverines | Tampa Stadium | Tampa | 60,156 | |
|---|
| 41 | Sun Bowl | | | 1988 | Army | Sun Bowl Stadium | El Paso | 48,719 | |
|---|
| 42 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1989 | Miami Hurricanes | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 77,452 | |
|---|
| 43 | Fiesta Bowl | | | 1990 | Louisville Cardinals | Sun Devil Stadium | Tempe | 69,098 | |
|---|
| 44 | Blockbuster Bowl | | | 1991 | Colorado Buffaloes | Joe Robbie Stadium | Miami Gardens | 52,644 | |
|---|
| 45 | Sugar Bowl | | | 1992 | Miami Hurricanes | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 76,789 | |
| 46 | Gator Bowl | | | 1993 | North Carolina Tar Heels | Gator Bowl Stadium | Jacksonville | 67,205 | |
|---|
| 47 | | | | 1994 | Ohio State Buckeyes | Citrus Bowl | Orlando | 71,195 | |
|---|
| 48 | Outback Bowl | | | 1996 | Michigan Wolverines | Tampa Stadium | Tampa | 53,161 | |
|---|
| 49 | Music City Bowl | | | 1998 | Virginia Tech Hokies | Vanderbilt Stadium | Nashville | 41,248 | |
|---|
| 50 | Orange Bowl | | | 1999 | Michigan Wolverines | | Miami Gardens | 70,461 | |
|---|
| 51 | Independence Bowl | | | 2001 | Iowa State Cyclones | Independence Stadium | Shreveport | 45,627 | |
|---|
| 52 | Music City Bowl | | | 2004 | Minnesota Golden Gophers | The Coliseum | Nashville | 66,089 | |
|---|
| 53 | Cotton Bowl Classic | | | 2005 | Texas Tech Red Raiders | Cotton Bowl | Dallas | 74,222 | |
|---|
| 54 | Independence Bowl | | | 2006 | Oklahoma State Cowboys | Independence Stadium | Shreveport | 45,054 | |
|---|
| 55 | Independence Bowl | | | 2007 | Colorado Buffaloes | Independence Stadium | Shreveport | 47,043 | |
|---|
| 56 | Sugar Bowl | | | 2008 | Utah Utes | Louisiana Superdome | New Orleans | 71,872 | |
|---|
| 57 | BCS National Championship Game | | | 2009 | Texas Longhorns | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 94,906 | |
| 58 | Capital One Bowl | | | 2010 | Michigan State Spartans | Citrus Bowl | Orlando | 61,519 | |
|---|
| 59 | BCS National Championship Game | | | 2011 | LSU Tigers | | New Orleans | 78,237 | |
| 60 | BCS National Championship Game | | | 2012 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | Sun Life Stadium | Miami Gardens | 80,120 | |
| 61 | Sugar Bowl | | | 2013 | Oklahoma Sooners | | New Orleans | 70,473 | |
|---|
| 62 | Sugar Bowl§ | | | 2014 | Ohio State Buckeyes | | New Orleans | 74,682 | |
| 63 | Cotton Bowl Classic§ | | | 2015 | Michigan State Spartans | | | Arlington | 82,812 | |
| 64 | CFP National Championship | | | Clemson Tigers | University of Phoenix Stadium | Glendale | 75,765 | |
| 65 | Peach Bowl§ | | | 2016 | Washington Huskies | Georgia Dome | Atlanta | 79,996 | |
| 66 | CFP National Championship | | | Clemson Tigers | Raymond James Stadium | Tampa | 74,512 | |
| 67 | Sugar Bowl§ | | | 2017 | Clemson Tigers | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | New Orleans | 72,360 | |
| 68 | CFP National Championship | | | Georgia Bulldogs | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Atlanta | 77,430 | |
| 69 | Orange Bowl§ | | | 2018 | Oklahoma Sooners | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens | 66,203 | |
| 70 | CFP National Championship | | | Clemson Tigers | Levi's Stadium | Santa Clara | 74,814 | |
| 71 | Citrus Bowl | | | 2019 | Michigan Wolverines | Camping World Stadium | Orlando | 59,746 | |
|---|
| 72 | Rose Bowl§ | | | 2020 | Notre Dame Fighting Irish | AT&T Stadium | Arlington | 18,373 | |
| 73 | CFP National Championship | | | Ohio State Buckeyes | Hard Rock Stadium | Miami Gardens | 14,926 | |
| 74 | Cotton Bowl Classic§ | | | 2021 | Cincinnati Bearcats | AT&T Stadium | Arlington | 76,313 | |
| 75 | CFP National Championship | | | Georgia Bulldogs | Lucas Oil Stadium | Indianapolis | 68,311 | |
| 76 | Sugar Bowl | | | 2022 | Kansas State Wildcats | Caesars Superdome | New Orleans | 60,437 | |
|---|
| 77 | Rose Bowl§ | | | 2023 | Michigan Wolverines | Rose Bowl | Pasadena | 96,371 | | |
References
- General
- Web site: Bowl/All-Star Game Records . National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) . 2011 NCAA Division I Football Records . NCAA.org . August 30, 2011 . September 15, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120915225102/http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/football_records/2011/Bowls.pdf . live .
- Web site: Bowl Bound . UA Athletics Media Relations Office . 2010 Alabama Football Media Guide . January 29, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110523062558/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-footbl/auto_pdf/history-bowlrecords.pdf . May 23, 2011 .
- Specific
Notes and References
- Bowl/All-Star Game Records, p. 14
- Bowl Bound, p. 182
- Bowl/All-Star Game Records, p. 31
- Book: Dunnavant, Keith . The Fifty-Year Seduction: How Television Manipulated College Football, from the Birth of the Modern NCAA to the Creation of the BCS . 2004 . Macmillan . 978-0-312-32345-5 . 93–99 . March 2, 2011.
- Bowl Bound, p. 188
- Bowl Bound, pp. 189–190
- Bowl Bound, p. 191
- Bowl Bound, pp. 192–199
- Bowl Bound, p. 200
- News: Mitchell . Billy . Reality of a losing record stuns the Tide . 1B . The Tuscaloosa News . November 11, 1984 . January 29, 2011.
- News: Wheat . Jack . Perkins takes Tampa Bay coaching job . 1 . The Tuscaloosa News . December 31, 1986 . January 29, 2011.
- Bowl Bound, p. 201
- Bowl Bound, pp. 202–203
- News: Hurt . Cecil . Voters don't let the Tide down . 1B . The Tuscaloosa News . December 7, 1992 . January 29, 2011.
- News: Hurt . Cecil . National Champions! Bama finds life is sweet back at top . 1 . The Tuscaloosa News . January 2, 1993 . January 29, 2011.
- News: Hurt . Cecil . Sayers will fight 'excessive' penalties . 1 . The Tuscaloosa News . August 3, 1995.
- News: Aide gets Alabama post . The New York Times . December 10, 1996 . February 23, 2011 . November 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20151117042807/http://www.nytimes.com/1996/12/10/sports/aide-gets-alabama-post.html?src=pm . live .
- Bowl Bound, pp. 204–205
- News: Fran's the new man at Alabama . Hurt . Cecil . 1 . The Tuscaloosa News . December 2, 2000 . February 23, 2011.
- News: Alabama is penalized with 2-year bowl ban . The New York Times . February 2, 2002 . January 29, 2011.
- News: Hurt . Cecil . UA officials disappointed in appeal outcome . The Tuscaloosa News . March 23, 2010 . January 29, 2011 . June 6, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606032242/http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/article/20100323/NEWS/100329840/1007?Title=UA-officials-disappointed-in-appeal-outcome . live .
- News: Alabama fires Shula, names Kines interim coach . ESPN.com news services . ESPN.com . November 28, 2006 . January 29, 2011 . December 2, 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061202123610/http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=2677110 . live .
- Bowl Bound, p. 206
- News: Alabama's defense dismantles Michigan State . Jon . Solomon . The Birmingham News . January 2, 2011 . January 30, 2011.
- News: Alabama's D embarrasses LSU as five FGs, late TD seal national title . Associated Press . ESPN.com . January 9, 2012 . February 22, 2012 . January 24, 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120124170705/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=320090099 . dead .
- News: Alabama routs Notre Dame, wins 3rd BCS title in past 4 years . ESPN.com news services . ESPN.com . January 7, 2013 . January 8, 2013 . January 8, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130108122521/http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=330070333 . live .
- News: The Alabama football dynasty collects another title with a 52–24 rout of Ohio State . Des . Bieler . Chuck . Culpepper . . January 11, 2021 . January 12, 2021 . January 12, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210112005416/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/01/11/alabama-ohio-state-national-championship-score-live-updates/ . live .
- Bowl/All-Star Game Records, pp. 32–38
